Judy Kimes, New Scotland Historical Association

Kate Bailey, Voorheesville

“As marketed, it has not generated a buyer,” said Chuck Marshall of Stewart’s Shops of the former Smith’s Tavern. 

NEW SCOTLAND — John F. Dearstyne Jr., who was devoted to his wife, children, and grandchildren, was a steward of country life and worked to protect the rural character of his town.
He died peacefully at home on Monday, Jan.17, 2022, surrounded by the family he deeply loved. He was 83.

“It would be in line with the town’s hamlet idea,” said developer Ron Kay of his plan for 20 acres along Route 85, across the road from the Stewart’s Shop and in between Stonewell Plaza and the convent-turned-apartments at 1903 New Scotland Road.

 “They say 83.28-percent complete,” Councilman William Hennessy said during the Jan. 12 town board meeting of the Hilton Barn’s new slate roof. “Whereas they’re really more like probably 90-percent done.”

Voorheesville Mayor Rich Straut said he wasn’t sure why the same state funding was announced again, but surmised it had something to do with the village hitting another threshold in the project, what Straut called “closing on the financing.”

Voorheesville Superintendent Frank Macri noted not everything on the previous five-year condition survey got done. “I know we looked at two five-year [surveys] previously,” he said, “and there were still things that were on those five-year plans that weren’t accomplished … So just because they’re on a five-year plan doesn’t mean they have to get finished.”

Recent testing showed the nitrate level in the Clarksville Water District supply had dropped from 11.3 milligrams per liter in late November to about 5.4 milligrams per liter on Dec. 30.

“We’re certainly not going to miss a beat here, by doing what we did,” Supervisor Douglas LaGrange said of naming new planning and zoning board chairs. “And that was another important thing: To keep the consistency through projects and through different things that were before each of the boards.”